Pictured: Singer Njabulo Madlala.

A UK tour of Simply Gershwin will take to the stages of regional theatres between October and December this winter.

Simply Gershwin is a show that celebrates the works of composer and pianist George Gershwin, who is often credited with being the first artists to bridge the gap between the concert hall and Broadway.

The show will include music, song and dance hits such as Rhapsody In Blue, I’ve Got A Crush On You, Someone To Watch Over Me, Oh, Lady Be Good!, Fascinating Rhythm, S Wonderful, Strike Up The Band and A Foggy Day.

Other highlights of the show will include Summertime and It Ain’t Necessarily So from the opera Porgy and Bess.

In addition to showcasing Gershwin’s classical orchestral pieces, the production will feature some of the songs he wrote with his brother Ira.

Simply Gershwin will also feature pianist Viv McLean and singers Gweneth-Ann Jeffers and Njabulo Madlala, plus a ballroom duo and two tap dancers.

The production will be performed at venues such as Cliffs Pavilion in Southend, Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and The Anvil in Basingstoke.

The final show will be at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton on the 1st December.

About the Gershwins

George Gershwin was born in September, 1898 and his compositions often combined both popular and classical genres. Some of his best known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris.

He began his career as a song plugger, but soon began composing with his brother Ira Gershwin and American songwriter, film producer and record executive, Buddy DeSylva.

Ira was born in August 1983 and continued to write additional hit songs after the death of George Gershwin in 1937.

For more information and tickets visit www.raymondgubbay.co.uk.